If you’re this worried about catching the virus you should stay at home

[TheRebelle]

Today I was in a lovely National Trust property with my 4 year old, masked up and lathered in hand sanitiser, walking around chatting we went through to the next room where, unknown to us, a couple were standing behind the door and the man put his hand out toward us and barked Stop! Two meters! And then turned his back to us. Now I had no intention of going any closer to him anyway but was it really necessary to shout at us, he could’ve at least said would you mind keeping the two meter distance from us please? Or some such, it really upset me.

@Ostara212 Well it’s usually DD’s presence that they seem to object to, so I just politely assert that small children have as much right as they do to be out in public and hit them with a few choice stats about the rarity of outdoor transmission. Although ‘piss off’ has admittedly also featured on a couple of occasions!

I don't even think a lot of people like those in OP are even particularly worried about covid. They are just enjoying being able to use covid as an excuse to be rude and domineering because it's hard for people to question them however ridiculous they are being. They particularly enjoy targeting young children and their parents who have dared to venture out at the same time as them to do activities such as shopping, walks in the park or anything remotely enjoyable.

Ostara212
That guy needs to stay the fuck at home and I'd have told him so.

Absolutely this. I'm sick of being tutted at by the COVID police. If you're that paranoid, stay indoors.

Op all the hand sanister in the world won't stop an air Bourne disease but yes it was unnecessary. Perhaps he's lost people, close to him.
It makes me laugh though, ELDERY people work in school and college and uni in a variety of jobs and they have had to get on with it and without the provision of masks.

Lots of people have lost loved ones in all manner of horrible ways. It doesn’t mean they’re entitled to be a dick to other people.

I had to avoid a footbridge over the river with my toddler for a few months last year. There is actually enough space for people to pass comfortably, but people would often wait and get very impatient if we didn’t practically run across. Fortunately no shouting at us, but absolutely zero tolerance for the fact that a toddler might not walk briskly across a bridge out of consideration for someone waiting at the other end. I wasn’t taking the piss, I kept him walking with only a brief pause to look at the river, and it probably took a minute at most to get across, but still got huffs and puffs and eyerolls and tuts and muttering about selfishness. This was people out walking dogs in the park in a village, not a cut-through to a busy hospital or something. It was a shame to avoid the route but I had a newborn and a toddler and didn’t have the strength to deal with the disapproval of a small child showing interest in the outdoors.

[quote TempsPerdu]@Ostara212 Well it’s usually DD’s presence that they seem to object to, so I just politely assert that small children have as much right as they do to be out in public and hit them with a few choice stats about the rarity of outdoor transmission. Although ‘piss off’ has admittedly also featured on a couple of occasions! [/quote]
I think BluePheasant is right and if you find you are shouted at more with DD...? That's shocking. I tend to beam at littlies now because so many adults are masked outdoors, they seem to like to see a smiley face and they brighten up and wave.

I definitely think the type who would kick a cat are doing this, they probably aren't scared and they probably target women.

I was previously quite sympathetic to people who were nervous around people but am fast losing that. I frequently have DD in tow who is 3 so I will not be masking her, and some people react as though she’s a bomb, leaping into roads to get out of the way and/or tutting at us if we don’t immediately do the same. We know plenty about outdoor transmission now and the fact it’s practically none existent so yes, it’s time for people who can’t handle walking past children to stay the fuck at home.

Honestly don’t worry about it, people (often older People) are relishing the opportunity to tell people what they should do. Don’t give it any further thought.

^^agreed it really is a certain type. Pandemic has brought out the best and worst in people

I have found that the tolerance for small children in public has improved a lot where I am, presumably as many people are finding themselves double vaccinated, so it must only be those really clinging on to anti social feelings who are still behaving so unpleasantly

For me the worst was when I was in a supermarket ailse, there's plenty of space to walk past. I move to the side. An older lady just stands there staring at me, blocking the aisle with her trolley, expecting me to walk round the entire supermarket so they don't have to pass me. We had a battle of wills for about 4 minutes. I won

I'm not against the rules but don't be silly, and don't be rude to others. A lot of the rudeness I've experienced has actually been from men in their 30s/40s. Older people can be more fearful but less rude about it. But I agree that a lot of it is nothing to do with fear and everything about an excuse to be rude to others

Sorry this happened and you'd like to think he would reflect and be embarrassed of himself. Alas, he's definitely a 'type' who unfortunately won't, and a lot of us have had the misfortune to be on the receiving end of this ridiculous behaviour during this pandemic.
I don't have young children any more but I am a runner. Shock, horror - how dare I run around the streets at a distance from people spreading my non existent plague.
Sorry to say, it seems to be people of a retired age, mainly female who projected their anger on to me and I had a lot especially post Christmas time.
I've had all sorts - leaping into bushes, tutted at, arms out, refusal to move over so I am forced into a busy road, shouted at, you name it. The hysteria seems to have calmed slightly thank goodness.

Yes. I think buy now, this sort of behaviour needs to stop. Pensioners shouting at children to keep 2m away needs to stop. Interestingly in our small expat community ( in EU) we have experienced this and the majority told the offending person to stay at home or cope with small children running around ( again outside) . I think , i would now challenge those who wanted 2m from my child, and crack on with an argument. Gloves on.

While everyone's having a go at 'older people', am I allowed to have a moan about the teenagers who crowd into the shops on their way home from school to buy drinks and snacks, who ignore requests from the staff to wait outside if they're not buying, who don't observe social distancing, and who don't wear their masks properly, or at all?

@DameAlyson

While everyone's having a go at 'older people', am I allowed to have a moan about the teenagers who crowd into the shops on their way home from school to buy drinks and snacks, who ignore requests from the staff to wait outside if they're not buying, who don't observe social distancing, and who don't wear their masks properly, or at all?

They cheer me up.

I have not found that the rudeness about my toddler existing in an outdoor place is restricted to a particular demographic but I can say for sure that it hasn’t ever come from a teenager.

Oh Jesus. All the stay the fuck st home/ covid police/ roooolz idiots have all come to one thread
Get a life

Yeah, if he's freaked out about being anywhere near people then it's his problem and he should stay away from public places. Not your issue. 4 year olds have spent nearly half of their lives in some kind of weird restrictions, they deserve to be able to do normal things without random men yelling at them.

He's an "hysterical"; there are a lot of them about! 😱

This thread is like Covid moaners' bingo.

Unfortunately it’s just the way it is at the moment isn’t it? Just be glad that you’re not as worried about catching it as he is. Is it that big a deal, I wouldn’t find that too upsetting. I’m not too worried about catching it, but there’s many other things to consider that I am very worried about. Many scientists and economists are worried. I get that you are worried about the social side of it. It is shit and serious but it’s really not as simple as just the social side of things.

He was maybe a bit rude. But your thread is very bitchy.